Continuous forge furnace



19, 1968 R. B. HAMMOND 3,373,979

CONT INUOUS FORGE FURNACE Filed June 1, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. 20155 4 5. HAM/WU/Vfi BY (M w. W

March 19, 1968 R, HAMMOND 3,373,979

CONTINUOUS FORGE FURNACE Filed June 1, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 7" TOAD/V5 y March 19, 1968 R. B. HAMMOND 3,373,979

CONTINUOUS FORGE FURNACE Filed June 1, 1966 s Sheets-Sheet i I M I 1 In III: In

INVENTOR.

P055511 5. HAMMOND BY WW. @AQ

United States Patent Ofitlce 3,373,979 Patented Mar. 19, 1968 3,373,979 CONTINUOUS FORGE FURNACE Russell B. Hammond, 2620 Crane, Detroit, Mich. 48214 Filed June 1, 1966, Ser. No. 554,477 2 Claims. (Cl. 263--6) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This application discloses a continuous forge furnace, in which the workpieces are moved through the heat zone by means of a pair of stationary side rails of refractory material and a vertically and laterally reciprocable center rail, which is actuated by motor driven push rods and pivoted yokes. The center refractory rail is provided with a declining angular discharge end.

This invention relates to the forging of metals and has particular reference to the heating and handling of the metal preliminary to the forging operation.

An object of the invention is to provide means for conveying rods, billets, slabs, etc., through a high temperature furnace.

Another object of the invention is to provide a continuously operating furnace into which the metal to be forged is automatically fed, and from which the metal to be forged is automatically discharged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a furnace of the character indicated, which is constructed with refractory material for supporting and moving the workpieces through the furnace, which results in a considerable saving of metal in the workpieces, because there is a more uniform heat developed in the work-pieces, thereby minimizing the tendency of the metal to oxidize and burn up the workpieces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a continuously operating furnace of the character indicated, which provides better heat control in the workpieces, thereby delivering the workpieces to the forging machines at the required temperature to give maximum life to the forging dies.

Another object of the invention is to provide a continuous flow forging furnace, which is entirely automatic in its operation and requires little, if any, manual labor to load and discharge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a forging furnace which is constructed with an automatic indexing mechanism, which steadily advances the workpieces through the furnace at a constant speed, and at a uniform temperature throughout the travel, whereby the workpiece metal is evenly heated throughout its mass, preliminary to being forged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a furnace of the character indicated, which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and efiicient in operation.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the within disclosure, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a furnace, with parts broken away to show the relation of other parts.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the furnace shown in FIG. 1, with the cover removed and showing the driving and indexing mechanisms.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the refractory, center indexing rail.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the center, refractory, indexing rail in position on the supporting carriage.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, showing one of the push rods for elevating and lowering the indexing carriage and center rail.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail illustrating the mechanism for moving forward and reversing the carriage supporting the indexing rail.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the discharge end of the indexing center rail.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be understood that in the embodiment herein disclosed the reference character 11 indicates, in general, the forging furnace embodying the invention.

The furnace 11 is provided with one or more burners 12, and at least one stack 13, for removing the products of combustion. The furnace 11 is constructed of a metal frame, which is covered with sheet metal and is lined on the inside with refractory material, as hereinafter described.

In this embodiment the furnace 11 is designed to handle workpieces 14, which are destined to become connecting rods for internal combustion engines. The workpieces 14 are fed into the furnace 11 at the charging end by means of a conveyor (not shown), and after being properly heated and indexed, are ejected from the furnace at the discharge end 15, onto a suitable conveyor (not shown), which carries the workpieces directly to the forging machines.

One of the important features of the invention resides in the continuity of the charging and discharging of the workpieces, and in the advancing of the workpieces through the furnace at a constant speed and subject to a uniform and constant temperature, so that when they are discharged from the furnace they are in exactly the right condition for forging, with minimal oxidation and scale.

As shown in FIG. 2, the furnace 11 is constructed with a framework 16, and is lined with refractory material, including bricks 17 and refractory blocks 18, which are supported, as at 19, by extensions of the frame work 16.

The workpieces 14 are supported at either end on side rails 20 and 21, which are also made of refractory materials and are also supported by the extensions 19, comprising part of the frame 16.

Each side rail 20 and 21 is formed of upper and lower members 20A and 20B, and 21A and 21B. The side rails 20 and 21 run longitudinally of the furnace 11 and are preferably made up of a plurality of three foot sections, so that the sections may be replaced if damaged, without the necessity of replacing the full length of the rail.

The upper faces of the side rails 20 and 21 are provided with matching recesses or grooves 22, in which are received the ends of the workpieces 14.

A center indexing rail 23 is having an inclined end 23D is positioned between the side rails 20 and 21 and also extends longitudinally of the furnace, and is composed of refractory blocks 23A and 23B, which are supported on members 24, which in turn are supported. on the indexing carriage 25.

The indexing carriage 25 is arranged to reciprocate vertically under the influence of at least four push rods 26, each pair of which is eccentrically mounted on the drive wheels 27, which are carried at opposite ends of a drive shaft 28, which rotates in bearings 29 and is driven through a chain and sprocket 30 by an electric motor (not shown). Although I herein only illustrate one drive shaft and two push rods, it will be understood that the opposite end of the carriage 25 is similarly equipped.

A smaller sprocket 31 is also mounted on the shaft 28 and through its chain 32 drives a second shaft 33, which is supported by the frame 16 approximately midway between the ends of the oven 11.

The shaft 33 has an arm 34 (FIG. 6) attached thereto and rotatable therewith, and the arm 34 has pivoted thereto, as at 35, a cam roller 36, which is arranged to contact the members 37 and 38 of a yoke, which is pivoted to the frame 16, as at 39, so that it may rock forwardly and backwardly to effect the forward and reverse motion of the indexing carriage 25.

The member 38 of the yoke is attached to the indexing carriage 25 by means of a push rod 40, which is pivoted as at 41 to the member 38 of the yoke and is pivoted as at 42 to a bracket 43, which is secured by welding, or other suitable means, to the indexing carriage 25. Each push rod 26 and 40 is provided with adjustment means 26A and 40A, so that it may be lengthened or shortened.

As shown in FIG. 2, the center rail 23 is provided with a water seal 44, which is received in a water filled trough 45.

The upper face of the indexing rail 23 is provided with recesses, or grooves 23C, which are also spaced, as are the recesses or grooves in the side rails 22, and are arranged to cradle the workpieces 14 upon the upward movement of the center rail 23, under the influence of the push rods 26, and advance the workpieces, from recess to recess in the side rails, upon the forward movement of the indexing carriage 25, under the influence of the member 38 of the yoke, 37-38 (FIG. 6). The carriage 25 is reversed by the member 37 when the cam 36 strikes it.

The indexing carriage 25 is controlled in its forward and reverse movements by rollers 25A, which are pivoted to suitable brackets on the carriage 25 and engage tracks 25B which are supported on uprights 25C, comprising part of the framework of the oven.

The oven 11 is provided with the burners 12 and a suitable source of combustible material, preferably gas, and is also provided with suitable controls (not shown), which automatically maintain a constant temperature on the interior of the furnace.

The device operates as follows:

The workpieces 14 are fed into the charging end of the furnace 11, which is the end opposite to that shown in FIG. 1. The workpieces are initially received in the recesses, r grooves 22, of the side rails 20 and 21. The workpieces 14 are fed into the oven by any suitable conveyor system (not shown). When the workpieces are received in the slots, or recesses, 22, of the side rails 20 and 21, the center rail 23 is in lowered position, as shown in FIG. 2. As the center rail 23 moves into its upper position all of the workpieces 14 will be lifted out of their recesses 22 in the side rails, and will be advanced simultaneously into the recesses immediately ahead.

This operation continues through the timed cycle of the oven so that each workpiece travels from recess to recess throughout the length of the furnace, at a constant speed and temperature, so that when the workpieces are discharged from the last recess in the center rail over the inclined end 23D (as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 7) the workpieces will fall onto another conveyor (not shown), which carries it to the forging station in the proper, predetermined condition for effective forging.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A forging furnace comprising a housing having an insulated heat zone therein, means to heat said zone, and means wholly contained within said housing for receiving workpieces and uniformly advancing said workpieces through the said heat zone and then discharging said workpieces from said heat zone, said last named means including a pair of stationary side rails formed of sections of refractory material, a center rail formed of sections of refractory material, supporting means for said center rail, and means for giving said supporting means up and down and forward and reverse movement, the said supporting means for said center rail comprising a carriage which is reciprocated vertically by means of motor driven push rods and is reciprocated laterally by means of motor driven, pivoted yokes.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which said center rail has a declining angular discharge end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,965,868 7/1934 Vickers 2636 XR 2,848,206 8/ 1958 Kniveton 263-6 3,042,226 7/1962 Maciejczak 198-219 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,142,620 1/ 1963 Germany. 855,099 11/1960 France.

FREDERICK L. MATIESON, 111., Primary Examiner.

A. D. HERRMANN, Assistant Examiner. 

